Río Palaja, Honduras (click here for the Honduras table of rivers)

river photo

Class: IV; Flow: 350-1,500 cfs; Average Gradient: 11 m/km; Portages: no; Length: 5 km+R.Ulúa; Time: 45 min+R.Ulúa

Season: June to October; rafts? high water; Highlights: mixing creeking with big water; Crux move: getting your Tarzan on

Put-In: bridge (253 m); Take-Out: San Vicente road bridge on Río Ulúa (168 m)

Description: (click here for general notes about my descriptions)

The Río Palaja is a long creek worthy of more exploration (despite being dammed partway), but so far I have only gotten on the lower 5 km down to the Río Ulúa. That day it was big (upstream dam was releasing) and could have been rafted. It is mostly wide open III/III+; however, at least at higher water, it has a few IV- rapids and one IV near the end where you contend with hanging vines. Watch for downed trees also. Once on the Río Ulúa, it is 11.5 km of big water down to the San Vicente Centenario road bridge.

A full description is in the Mayan Whitewater El Salvador, Honduras, & Nicaragua guidebook.

Descent History: I ran this in September 2016 with 1,500 cfs.